Migration of double J stent from left kidney to Right Vertebral vein, a case report and review of literature

Abstract

Abstract Background: In urologic procedures, a double-J stent (DJS) may be employed to facilitate efficient drainage of urine from the kidneys into the bladder. This stent can be inserted either retrogradely or anterogradely. One of the infrequently documented complications of this procedure is the migration of the stent through the renal vein. Case Presentation: A 69-year-old female with a solitary functioning kidney presented to our clinic with the primary complaint of left flank pain. Subsequent to diagnostic investigations, a sizable mid-pole renal stone was identified. The patient underwent percutaneous nephrolithotomy with the insertion of an anterograde DJS. During her follow-up visit for DJS removal, the stent was not visualized through cystoscopy. Further evaluations revealed the migration of the stent through the renal vein. The distal end of the stent was located within the vertebral vein. However, the patient remained asymptomatic and no thrombosis was found in CT angiography. The stent was then retrieved using an endovascular procedure via the femoral vein. Conclusion: in this case report, we described a case with asymptomatic DJS migration to the right vertebral vein as the furthest reported location yet.